By Golden Maunganidze
He scratches his ashen head, cudgelling his brains to cook up an idea of how he can scuff up the billion dollars needed to board a bus from Zaka to Masvingo where he is supposed to undergo a health check-up process at Masvingo General Hospital.
To travel from his home to town and back demands almost six billion today and the old man is even afraid that if the inflation-conquered economy remains unabated, the bus fare would even double before the week ends.
Despite the fact that he is a senior citizen, a sign which is supposed to translate to wisdom, Mr Mutandwa (80) fails to find a solution in the endeavour to beef up his ailing pocket.
Many options suddenly flood the old man’s mind- “Can I sell the only six chickens that I have?”
He scratches his ashen head, cudgelling his brains to cook up an idea of how he can scuff up the billion dollars needed to board a bus from Zaka to Masvingo where he is supposed to undergo a health check-up process at Masvingo General Hospital.
To travel from his home to town and back demands almost six billion today and the old man is even afraid that if the inflation-conquered economy remains unabated, the bus fare would even double before the week ends.
Despite the fact that he is a senior citizen, a sign which is supposed to translate to wisdom, Mr Mutandwa (80) fails to find a solution in the endeavour to beef up his ailing pocket.
Many options suddenly flood the old man’s mind- “Can I sell the only six chickens that I have?”
To him, the idea is brilliant, but what then would he slaughter for his grandchildren when they come for holiday in August as usual?
Selling a goat is an option already out of bounce as he sold them all to pay second term school fees for his three grandchildren whose parents succumbed to the ravages of HIV and AIDS.
Every commodity the old man thinks of is demanding not less than a billion. To him life has become unbearable as he no longer has anything that he can sell to generate such billions which are currently minimum charges for basics.
His ailment is heart problem and such an economic situation’s contribution is worsening his already precarious health condition.
Such is the “billion mania” that has come to soil the socio-economic fabric of our once beloved Zimbabwe.
The prevailing situation has pummelled the rural folk into submission on the financial front as theirs is not a well monetarised economy.
They have nothing to sell which can generate such astronomical sums of money.
Their fate has been sealed; they have been condemned to the abyss of financial exclusion.
One wonders whether they will ever continue with normal life as basics are curbed to the few cash ‘barons’ and ‘baronesses’ in society.
Though buses are plying some routes in the rural areas, it should be learnt though with grief that these buses have become mere decorations as they have totally become unaffordable.
Distinct dichotomies have developed between the urban and rural folk as travelling using both private and public transport has become a fairytale due to the prohibitive costs that have imposed an almost despotic reign on travellers.
People can no longer afford to go and console their beloved and bereaved friends, be it in rural or urban areas.
Family solidarity, which was usually fostered through members meeting and discussing issues, has been left in tatters as transport woes hold sway.
Transport sector players would argue that their business is sailing in stormy waters, thus analysts should not merely get fascinated by sums of money charged as bus fare, but consider the real value of the money.
Mr Henry Chivhanga of Chivhanga Transport said that: “Though we sympathise with our clients, you have got to appreciate the various economic challenges that have besieged our business. We have soaring fuel prices, erratic fuel supply on the market coupled with surging prices of spare parts,” he said.
Five litres of both diesel and petrol fetch from Z$5 billion to Z$7 billion on the parallel market, where the commodity can be accessed, which translates to increases in bus fares.
The saying, “before you think of buying anything, count billions” has gained cult status in the country, a rude dismissal of the million and subsequently, the millionaires we admired in the late nineties. Suddenly a grade one kid is now a billionnare.
It is however, very difficult to get a billion in the pocket but unfortunately the moment you realize that you have it; thus the very moment you find that the amount is too little to buy anything of significance.
Zimbabwe is probably the only country with pedestrians who are billionnares, a country where a sweet can costs way above half a billion. For one to be safe in as far as financial transactions are concerned, people speak of forex. its no longer suprising to hear a pre-school kid telling you exchange rates. Recently we were talking of millionnares, to billionnares, trillionnares and now we hear quadrillionnares and quintillionnares, then a critical question will remain unanswered. What next?
Selling a goat is an option already out of bounce as he sold them all to pay second term school fees for his three grandchildren whose parents succumbed to the ravages of HIV and AIDS.
Every commodity the old man thinks of is demanding not less than a billion. To him life has become unbearable as he no longer has anything that he can sell to generate such billions which are currently minimum charges for basics.
His ailment is heart problem and such an economic situation’s contribution is worsening his already precarious health condition.
Such is the “billion mania” that has come to soil the socio-economic fabric of our once beloved Zimbabwe.
The prevailing situation has pummelled the rural folk into submission on the financial front as theirs is not a well monetarised economy.
They have nothing to sell which can generate such astronomical sums of money.
Their fate has been sealed; they have been condemned to the abyss of financial exclusion.
One wonders whether they will ever continue with normal life as basics are curbed to the few cash ‘barons’ and ‘baronesses’ in society.
Though buses are plying some routes in the rural areas, it should be learnt though with grief that these buses have become mere decorations as they have totally become unaffordable.
Distinct dichotomies have developed between the urban and rural folk as travelling using both private and public transport has become a fairytale due to the prohibitive costs that have imposed an almost despotic reign on travellers.
People can no longer afford to go and console their beloved and bereaved friends, be it in rural or urban areas.
Family solidarity, which was usually fostered through members meeting and discussing issues, has been left in tatters as transport woes hold sway.
Transport sector players would argue that their business is sailing in stormy waters, thus analysts should not merely get fascinated by sums of money charged as bus fare, but consider the real value of the money.
Mr Henry Chivhanga of Chivhanga Transport said that: “Though we sympathise with our clients, you have got to appreciate the various economic challenges that have besieged our business. We have soaring fuel prices, erratic fuel supply on the market coupled with surging prices of spare parts,” he said.
Five litres of both diesel and petrol fetch from Z$5 billion to Z$7 billion on the parallel market, where the commodity can be accessed, which translates to increases in bus fares.
The saying, “before you think of buying anything, count billions” has gained cult status in the country, a rude dismissal of the million and subsequently, the millionaires we admired in the late nineties. Suddenly a grade one kid is now a billionnare.
It is however, very difficult to get a billion in the pocket but unfortunately the moment you realize that you have it; thus the very moment you find that the amount is too little to buy anything of significance.
Zimbabwe is probably the only country with pedestrians who are billionnares, a country where a sweet can costs way above half a billion. For one to be safe in as far as financial transactions are concerned, people speak of forex. its no longer suprising to hear a pre-school kid telling you exchange rates. Recently we were talking of millionnares, to billionnares, trillionnares and now we hear quadrillionnares and quintillionnares, then a critical question will remain unanswered. What next?
3 comments:
is this story true specify the locations again
thanks for this keep it up
Zimbabwe was horrible those days but even now, its not over we need political solution
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